- Go to slide 1 out of 9
- Go to slide 2 out of 9
- Go to slide 3 out of 9
- Go to slide 4 out of 9
- Go to slide 5 out of 9
- Go to slide 6 out of 9
- Go to slide 7 out of 9
- Go to slide 8 out of 9
- Go to slide 9 out of 9
Overview
After the anesthesia takes effect, the surgeon makes an abdominal incision. In non-emergency C-sections, the surgeon usually makes a horizontal incision (a bikini cut) across the abdomen, just above the pubic area. In an emergency situation, the surgeon occasionally needs to make a vertical cut, from below the navel to just above the pubic area. A vertical cut sometimes allows quicker access to the baby.
Review Date 4/16/2024
Updated by: John D. Jacobson, MD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.